REDFORD, Mich. (AP) — President Barack Obama says he “won’t compromise” on his demands that the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes.

However, Obama held back from directly criticizing Republicans for opposing his tax plans, perhaps signaling that private negotiations over the “fiscal cliff” are showing progress. Obama and Boehner met privately at the White House Sunday.

Obama traveled to Michigan Monday to try to rally public support for his proposals to raise rates on the top 2 percent of income earners. Speaking to auto workers, he said he was willing to support “tough spending cuts” as long as those cuts do not disproportionately hurt the middle class.